Phlox plant named &#39;APPOTWPU&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Phlox  plant named ‘Appotwpu’, characterized by its broadly upright and relatively compact plant habit; freely flowering habit, numerous small bright purple-colored flowers; long flowering period; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Phlox paniculata.

Cultivar denomination: ‘APPOTWPU’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Phlox plant, botanically known as Phlox paniculata and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Appotwpu’.

The new Phlox plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the inventor in Andijk and Hazerswoude-Dorp, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program was to create new compact and vigorous Phlox plants with numerous small flowers.

The new Phlox plant originated from a cross-pollination in August, 2011 in Andijk, The Netherlands, of a proprietary selection of Phlox paniculata identified as code number 9044-01, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent, with Phlox paniculata ‘Appofamcer’, disclosed in a U.S. Plant patent application filed concurrently, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Phlox plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled environment in Hazerswoude-Dorp, The Netherlands in August, 2012.

Asexual reproduction of the new Phlox plant by terminal cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Andijk, The Netherlands since 2013 has shown that the unique features of this new Phlox plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Phlox have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Appotwpu’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Appotwpu’ as a new and distinct Phlox plant:

-   -   1. Broadly upright and relatively compact plant habit.     -   2. Freely flowering habit, numerous small bright purple-colored         flowers.     -   3. Long flowering period.     -   4. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Phlox and the female parent selection differ primarily in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Phlox are not as vigorous as plants of the         female parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Phlox have larger flowers than plants of         the female parent selection.     -   3. Plants of the new Phlox and the female parent selection         differ in flower color as plants of the female parent selection         have soft purple-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Phlox and the male parent, ‘Appofamcer’, differ primarily in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Phlox have smaller flowers than plants of         ‘Appofamcer’.     -   2. Plants of the new Phlox and ‘Appofamcer’ differ in flower         color as plants of ‘Appofamcer’ have red purple-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Phlox can be compared to plants of Phlox paniculata ‘Purple Kiss’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 19,514. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Phlox and ‘Purple Kiss’ differ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Phlox have smaller flowers than plants of         ‘Purple Kiss’.     -   2. Plants of the new Phlox and ‘Purple Kiss’ differ in flower         color as plants of ‘Purple Kiss’ have deep purple-colored         flowers with white-colored centers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Phlox plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Phlox plant.

The photograph on the first sheet is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Appotwpu’ grown in a container.

The photographs on the second sheet are close-up views of typical inflorescences (upper photograph) and typical leaves (lower photograph) of ‘Appotwpu’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the summer in 15-cm containers in an outdoor nursery in Mijdrecht, The Netherlands and under cultural practices typically used in commercial Phlox production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 10° C. to 25° C. and night temperatures ranged from 4° C. to 15° C. Plants were pinched five weeks after planting and were 19 weeks old when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Phlox paniculata ‘Appotwpu’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Phlox             paniculata identified as code number 9044-01, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Phlox paniculata ‘Appofamcer’,             disclosed in a U.S. Plant patent application filed             concurrently. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By terminal cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 12 days at             temperatures about 20° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 16 days at             temperatures about 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 36 days             at temperatures about 18° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 42 days             at temperatures about 18° C.         -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fleshy; typically             white in color, actual color of the roots is dependent on             substrate composition, water quality, fertilizer type and             formulation, substrate temperature and physiological age of             roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Herbaceous perennial; broadly             upright and relatively compact plant habit; overall shape,             obovate; low vigor to moderately vigorous growth habit.         -   Plant height.—About 40.7 cm.         -   Plant width (spread).—About 34.8 cm.         -   Lateral branches.—Quantity: About ten primary lateral             branches per plant. Length: About 24.6 cm. Diameter: About             4 mm. Internode length: About 3.5 cm. Strength: Strong.             Aspect: Upright to about 25° from vertical. Texture and             luster: Smooth, glabrous; slightly glossy. Color: Close to             144A to 144B. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple.         -   Length.—About 9.8 cm.         -   Width.—About 3.3 cm.         -   Shape.—Narrowly ovate to elliptic; slightly to moderately             carinate.         -   Apex.—Long apiculate to acute.         -   Base.—Truncate.         -   Margin.—Entire; very finely serrate, inconspicious.         -   Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces.—Glabrous;             slightly rugose; slightly glossy.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 137A to             137B. Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to between             138A and 138B. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close             to N137D; venation, close to 144B. Fully expanded leaves,             lower surface: Close to 147B; venation, close to 145B.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 3.5 mm. Diameter: About 3 mm by             3 mm. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous.             Color, upper surface: Close to 145A; towards the margins,             moderately tinged with close to 187A. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and flowering habit.—Single rotate and             salverform flowers arranged in compound terminal panicles;             flowers face upright to outwardly; panicles roughly             hemispherical in shape; freely flowering habit with about             180 flowers developing per inflorescence and about 1,800             flowers developing per plant during the flowering season.         -   Fragrance.—Moderately fragrant; sweet, pleasant.         -   Natural flowering season.—Plants begin flowering about nine             months after planting; long flowering period, plants flower             continuously from July through September in The Netherlands.         -   Flower longevity.—Flowers last about ten days on the plant;             flowers not persistent.         -   Flower buds.—Height: About 1.5 cm. Diameter: About 4.5 mm.             Shape: Narrowly elliptic. Color: Close to 86A; developing             calyx, close to 148B to 148C heavily flushed and tinged with             close to N186D.         -   Inflorescence height.—About 11.2 cm.         -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 11.7 cm.         -   Flower diameter.—About 2.2 cm.         -   Flower depth.—About 1.4 cm.         -   Petals.—Quantity per flower: Typically five in a single             whorl; petals fused at the base into a narrow tube; free             parts separate to imbricate. Length: Overall, about 1.9 cm;             lower fused portion, about 9 min. Lobe width: About 9 mm.             Shape: Free part, spatulate. Apex: Obtuse to slightly             uneven. Margin: Entire. Texture and luster, upper surface:             Smooth, glabrous; velvety; matte. Texture and luster, lower             surface: Smooth, glabrous; slightly glossy. Color: When             opening, upper surface: Close to N74A; towards the throat,             close to 76C to 76D; throat, close to N79D. When opening,             lower surface: Close to N81B to N81C; towards the tube,             close to NN155D; tube, close to N79D. Fully opened, upper             surface: Slightly darker and more intense than N74A; throat,             close to N79C; color does not change with development. Fully             opened, lower surface: Close to N81B to N81C, tube, close to             N79C.         -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: Typically five in a single             whorl, fused towards the base; calyx, campanulate. Length:             About 9 mm. Width: About 1 mm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex:             Narrowly apiculate. Margin: Entire. Texture and luster,             upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; slightly glossy.             Color: When opening and fully opened, upper surface: Close             to 148C. When opening and fully opened, lower surface: Close             to 148B to 148C heavily flushed and tinged with close to             N186D.         -   Peduncles.—Length, primary peduncles: About 9.1 cm.             Diameter, primary peduncles: About 3 mm. Length, secondary             peduncles: About 4.6 cm. Diameter, secondary peduncles:             About 1.25 mm. Aspect, primary peduncles: Erect. Aspect,             secondary peduncles: About 40° from vertical. Strength:             Strong. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 144B.         -   Pedicels.—Length: About 4 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm. Angle:             About 40° from the peduncle axis. Strength: Strong. Texture:             Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 144B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Typically             five; filaments fused with petals. Filament length: About             0.5 mm. Filament color: Close to N77B. Anther length: About             1 mm. Anther shape: Oblong; basifixed. Anther color: Close             to 165C. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen color: Close to 11D.             Pistils: Quantity per flower: One. Pistil length: About             9 mm. Stigma shape: Cleft, three-parted. Stigma color: Close             to 150D. Style length: About 8 mm. Style color: Close to             N77C. Ovary color: Close to 143B.         -   Seeds and fruits.—Seed and fruit development have not been             observed on plants of the new Phlox. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Phlox have been observed to     have good garden performance and tolerate rain, wind, high     temperatures about 35° C. and to be winter hardy to USDA Hardiness     Zone 6. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Phlox have been not     been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Phlox     plants. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Phlox plant named ‘Appotwpu’ as illustrated and described. 